Final Fantasy XIV Articles

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FanFest is a big deal. Roughly 4,500 Final Fantasy XIV players headed to Paris in early February, filling the lofty Grande Halle de la Villette to capacity with friendly cheer. Almost all were desperately seeking more news on Shadowbringers, the upcoming expansion due out on July 2. But behind these headline announcements, it was also the epicentre of a community celebration unlike any other.

Cosplay competitions have become a staple of MMO fan festivals, showcasing some extraordinary skill and creativity. Even so, the contest at the European leg of this year’s Final Fantasy XIV FanFest was especially challenging, as time became a crucial factor. Some creators drew inspiration from the recently released Shadowbringers trailer, giving themselves a few short months to build an outfit.

FanFest is for the fans. It’s an opportunity for players worldwide to come together and celebrate Final Fantasy XIV, meet the developers behind the game, and hear exclusive news first-hand. Members of the press are invited (yours truly included), but interview sessions are usually saved for Gamescom and E3.

The new year is upon us, and that can only mean one thing. Time for us to look back at the year that was while bracing for the year ahead and recount the best (and worst) games we played during the last twelve months. The entire writing staff of MMORPG.com was polled for this year’s awards, and each game that won had a majority vote in its favor.

Recently, the Final Fantasy XIV team sat down with both Oda-san and Ishikawa-san, the minds behind the Stormblood story, for an in-house interviewer to talk about the lore in the game and how they go about creating a great story. We have that interview that covers a range of topics including how lore is created, what challenges the team has faced and much more.

The Final Fantasy XIV development team recently participated in a round of in-house interviews. One of them featured Soken-San, the composer of the game's soundtrack. In this interview, he speaks to creating the perfect mood for the game as well as the challenges he has faced over the years.

Today in Las Vegas, Square Enix pulled back the veil on their newest upcoming expansion to the incredibly popular MMORPG, Final Fantasy XIV. Titled “Shadowbringers,” Final Fantasy’s newest expansion brings players to the brink of finally taking down the Garlean Empire.

We've got the third installment in fun new series today. We've asked each of the MMORPG.com writers to submit their favorite three MMOs. Check out which ones have inspired Matt Keith and Mitch Gassner in today's edition.

At long last, it’s time to take the fight to Omega in the Alphascape. The sentient super-weapon that dispatched Shinryu and chased Midgardsormr to Hydaelyn is ready to take on the Warrior of Light in the final tier of the eponymous raid series. It’s been a hell of a journey since we first scuffled with Exdeath in the summer of last year, but the end is within reach if you can handle the challenge. (Expect some mild spoilers.)

Few among Final Fantasy XIV’s cast are as beloved as Alisaie Leveilleur. Since her return to the Scions at the end of Heavensward, she’s won over the playerbase with her sharp wit and sharper tongue. With last week’s release of Patch 4.4, Prelude in Violet, Alisaie is facing one of her most difficult trials yet, as she searches for the truth behind her brother’s disappearance. We got the chance to speak to Bethan Walker, the voice behind the character, about how she brings life to the role.

Editorials

I’ve had a long, complicated relationship with Dragoon. The first character I made in FFXIV — during the 1.0 beta, in fact — was a lancer. Years later, when I returned to the game, I made the same again. Yet for the longest time, I couldn’t really stick to it. I leveled lancer, and then it successor, Dragoon, to 60 when that was the level cap during the Heavensward era, but quickly gave up.

What makes a "Great MMO"? Well, in our voting we took into account both the technical and community achievements of each title, but also its wider effect on the MMO genre as a whole. In short, this list isn't just about what we think is "The Best", but also about what we think has had the most significant impact on culture and gaming as a whole.

Last week I discussed how the free-to-play model has altered both game industry business practice and the collective profile of the gaming public, neither necessarily for the better. This week, I'd like to talk about the negative effect free-to-play is having on the creative side of the game industry.

This week Square Enix finally added in the highly anticipated patch 2.1 known as A Realm Awoken. ARA is the first major content update for SEs reimagined Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn. Guild housing, player versus player combat, and a slew of new features made their way into the game with this update. Read on for our impressions of all the new content so far.

Square Enix is preparing to relaunch Final Fantasy XIV nearly two years after the first iteration was disastrously panned by nearly MMO player on the planet. In part one of a two-part EDITORIAL at MMORPG.com, we take a look at whether or not players should care. See if you agree with Adam and then add your voice to the discussion in the comments.

Previews

Today in Las Vegas, Square Enix pulled back the veil on their newest upcoming expansion to the incredibly popular MMORPG, Final Fantasy XIV. Titled “Shadowbringers,” Final Fantasy’s newest expansion brings players to the brink of finally taking down the Garlean Empire.

A couple of weeks ago I attended a media event for Stormblood and spent the day playing in some of the new zones, trying out Samurai & Red Mage, checking out the new job gauges, and playing one of the new dungeons which will be coming with Stormblood. I also had the opportunity to interview Naoki Yoshida (Yoshi-P) to learn some more information not only about the expansion but also about some of their plans moving on past this expansion. SPOILERS AHEAD!

The Samurai is one of the new jobs coming to Final Fantasy XIV when its Stormblood expansion launches on June 20th. Along with a whole game’s worth of story content, a level cap raise, new dungeons, the new Red Mage job, swimming, new raid, and so much more – the Samurai is eagerly anticipated as one of the most wanted parts of the Stormblood expansion. Today, we’re taking a look at the lore behind the job, its function in a fight, and more.

Final Fantasy XIV: Heavensward launches in just a few short days, and yet the team at Square Enix was busy showing the game off to press, fans, and other industry types at E3 2015. We asked Yoshi P why they’re so crazy, and the answer was simple: they’re very proud of what they’ve done, and they want to show it off.

Over the past weekend, the final beta phase of Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn took place and we managed to slide into the game to learn more about it. In this exclusive look, we offer more impressions of the beta overall and the game itself. Check out our thoughts and then tell us about your impressions of the game in the comments.

Now that the NDA has lifted somewhat, we can finally begin to talk about the resurrection of Square Enix's Final Fantasy XIV. Is it really "A Realm Reborn"? Find out what our first thoughts are an dthen let us know what you think in the comments.

Our team will have boots on the ground during next week's annual E3 convention in Los Angeles. We've got a preview of some of the games we'll be tracking during E3 and coverage you can expect to see in the next couple of weeks. Read on before telling us what you'd like us to check out in the comments.

Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn is ready to hit its beta phase of development, a long process since the original disastrous launch not many years ago. We've got a special preview from a recent event hosted by Square Enix. Check it out before heading to the comments.

We've had our team on the ground during Gamescom 2012 in Cologne, Germany to check out some of the hottest titles there. In our first preview, we take a look at Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn. See what we found out and then leave us your thoughts in the comments.

Now that Final Fantasy XIV has officially launched, MMORPG.com's Carolyn Koh has a first hand preview of Eorzea. In this comprehensive look at the new game world, Carolyn covers basic information about races, classes, the armory system, combat, harvesting, crafting, questing, travel and something called "old school gameplay". Check out Carolyn's impressions of her first day in her Eorzea Preview.

Last week, MMORPG.com correspondent Thomas Allegood wrote a preview of some of the crafting professions in Final Fantasy XIV, members of the Disciples of the Hand. He continues the crafting preview with a look at the Goldsmith, the Armourer, and the Woodworker.

Once again, we delve into the world of Eorzea to find out more about the new crafting system. Unlike many MMORPGs where crafting and gathering are side jobs, Square-Enix has brought these jobs into the mainstream, by actually making them playable classes. Let's see what they have in store for us using this new and somewhat controversial system.

Final Fantasy XIV is a keenly anticipated game but with information hard to find at times, players and fans are left with many questions. MMORPG.com's Thomas Allegood lifts the lid of the latest MMO entry from Square Enix and does his level best to answer some of those questions.

Interviews

Recently, the Final Fantasy XIV team sat down with both Oda-san and Ishikawa-san, the minds behind the Stormblood story, for an in-house interviewer to talk about the lore in the game and how they go about creating a great story. We have that interview that covers a range of topics including how lore is created, what challenges the team has faced and much more.

The Final Fantasy XIV development team recently participated in a round of in-house interviews. One of them featured Soken-San, the composer of the game's soundtrack. In this interview, he speaks to creating the perfect mood for the game as well as the challenges he has faced over the years.

Few among Final Fantasy XIV’s cast are as beloved as Alisaie Leveilleur. Since her return to the Scions at the end of Heavensward, she’s won over the playerbase with her sharp wit and sharper tongue. With last week’s release of Patch 4.4, Prelude in Violet, Alisaie is facing one of her most difficult trials yet, as she searches for the truth behind her brother’s disappearance. We got the chance to speak to Bethan Walker, the voice behind the character, about how she brings life to the role.

I had the opportunity to interview Natsuko Ishikawa, Lead Main Scenario Writer, and John Crow, Localization Lead, and delve a bit more into the process of creating the story in Final Fantasy XIV: Stormblood. I should mention we did talk about specific storylines in Stormblood and about some optional quest lines with major events, so if you have not finished the main storyline or some key side quests there will be spoilers.

Final Fantasy XIV is enjoying its most successful year since its relaunch as A Realm Reborn in 2013 — so there’s probably no better time to speak to the man credited with its success. Last week, I had the chance to do just that, and sat down for a face-to-face conversation with producer and director Naoki Yoshida.

It only feels like yesterday that Stormblood’s first major content patch, Return of the Legend came out — yet it’s been almost two months. On top of the usual helpings of story content, boss battles and balance changes, the developers took the unprecedented step of bringing in guest creators for a new raid series, Return to Ivalice, and introduced Ultimate, a hard-as-nails difficulty mode that makes Savage look like Cape Westwind.

Final Fantasy XIV’s lifeblood, aside from being Final Fantasy, is its story. We managed to catch up with Square Enix’s Koji Fox to chat about the MMORPG’s ongoing lore development, story, and secrets of the Eorzean narrative. Read on for part two of our interview with Koji Fox, the Co-Lead World and Lore Developer on the massively successful game.

Final Fantasy XIV’s lifeblood, aside from being Final Fantasy, is its story. We managed to catch up with Square Enix’s Koji Fox to chat about the MMORPG’s ongoing lore development, story, and secrets of the Eorzean narrative. Read on for part one of our two part interview with Koji Fox, the Co-Lead World and Lore Developer on the massively successful game.

A couple of weeks ago I attended a media event for Stormblood where we got to spend the day playing some parts of the new expansion and going over the upcoming changes to the game systems. The following covers the info we were presented with and which was in the Letter from the Producer on May 22nd. However, there is also some extra info which I gathered from Naoki Yoshida (Yoshi-P) during my interview with him.

In my first column for MMORPG.com, I wrote about Palace of the Dead, FFXIV’s diablo-style randomly generated dungeon. In it, I praised its revolutionary mechanics and how it gave almost everybody something to do. Now, over half a year later, I’m returning to the Palace, despite there being no real updates or movement to the content.

Fans had the opportunity to submit questions to Naoki Yoshida for answer during the Eorzean Question Time. For 40 minutes on Sunday morning Yoshida answered questions that were pre submitted on Saturday from the venue or from the Forums. The following is a highlight of what was asked and answered.

Final Fantasy XIV was our pick of MMO of the Year here at MMORPG.com, but if possible 2017 is shaping up to be an even bigger year for the popular MMORPG. We caught up with Square Enix’s Naoki Yoshida to chat about the year that was, what’s to come, and the big reveals still planned before Stormblood’s launch.

Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn’s 3rd Anniversary is here, and it’s time we counted our blessings for having one of the best MMORPGs in years come out of one of the more notorious launches (and subsequent relaunches). We caught up with Square Enix’s own Naoki Yoshida (Yoshi-P) to talk about the milestone, and what’s to come with the game’s future.

Final Fantasy XIV's 3.3 update isn't even two weeks old and already players are going to have something more to look forward to: Deep Dungeon. First unveiled back at Pax East in April, Deep Dungeon will be unlike anything Final Fantasy XIV players have seen to date. I got the chance to sit in on a group interview with game director Naoki "Yoshi-P" Yoshida to dive deeper how Deep Dungeon will work, the new raid finding tool, itemization, and more.

This year at PAX Square Enix made available Masayoshi Soken to the press. Read on to find out what he had to say to Rob Lashley about being the Sound Director for one of the most iconic RPG franchises in video game history.

During last weekend's Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn fan event in Las Vegas, Square Enix, Naoki Yoshida and the development team announced the first expansion for the game called "Heavensward". We caught up with Naoki Yoshida to find out more about Heavensward. Check out our exclusive interview.

There’s certainly a lot in FFXIV’s 18-month development pipeline. An imminent launch in China, Mac client, DirectX 11 update and Gold Saucer content are all in the pipeline. During Gamescom, columnist Gareth Harmer grabbed a seat at a roundtable interview, where Game Director Naoki Yoshida outlined his plans for the future.

This year at E3 I took part in a round table interview of Naoki Yoshida (aka Yoshi-P) director and lead producer on Final Fantasy XIV. Also at the table were the fine folks from Gamer Escape. Read on for what Yoshi - P had to say about what he and his team has in store for FFXIV.

We had the chance recently to sit down with Naoki Yoshida, producer on Final Fantasy XIV about all the changes coming down the pipe to the game, and how the new team expects to really turn things around for the venerable series' second MMO installment.

During a recent conference call, MMORPG.com Associate Editor Suzie Ford had the opportunity to speak with members of the Final Fantasy XIV team including Naoki Yoshida, Director & Producer, Sage Sundi, Global Online Producer and Michael Christopher Koji Fox, Title Translator. The discussion centered around the just-revealed 'road map' for development leading up to FFXIV v2.0 in late 2012. Check out the interview and then let us know what you think in the comments!

Media

General Articles

Over the last two weeks we have touched on the build up to Heavensward and some of the new systems in the game. This week I want to talk about the reason we have headed north to begin with, the remaining two classes; Machinist and Astrologian, as well as the Mac brewhaha. Next week I’ll do the official review and put a bow on it.

Last week I talked about the lead up to actually being able to set foot into Heavensward. This week I’m going to take a look at some of the other peripheral features that surround that game as well as examine one of the new jobs that have made their way into the game. I’ll save the next two jobs for future installments of this series. I’ll still keep this review spoiler free until next week. Even then I’ll keep them to a minimum and clearly label them.

Two years ago I dived into Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn not knowing what to expect. Turns out the game had gone through a complete revamp and it made great use of a proverbial phoenix down that are prevalent in the Final Fantasy series. You can read the 2.0 review here. If you are a masochist and want to relive how bad 1.0 truly was you can take a look at that boondoggle’s review here.

Nothing spites a news manager more than the arrival of April 1st and the attendant, and expected, games industry jokes. To celebrate the day, we've rounded up April Fool's pranks for your amusement into one convenient feature that we will update throughout the day. Keep your eyes right here to see the industry's best!

We gamers are a grudge-holding bunch, as Square Enix found out last year upon releasing Final Fantasy XIV. The game failed fans in spectacular fashion thanks to inadequate server support, bugs and obtuse mechanics. Despite public opinion and unsettling financials, Square vowed to redeem its failed MMO and against all logic, has actually done so. In fact, the game's fortunes have so reversed, Square's on the cusp of releasing it on the PS4.

We have spent the past three weeks examining different aspects of Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn. In our final installment of our Review in Progress, we wrap up the weekly series in preparation for next week's final review. Check out our thoughts on questing, leves, reputation and more. Read on and then leave your thoughts in the comments.

Now that Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn has "matured" to nearly three weeks since release, we have more thoughts to offer about the game play and more on our way to our final review. See what this week's installment of our Review in Progress has to say before heading to the comments to add your thoughts.

Now that some of the issues plaguing the first week's release of Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn, we continue our series of Review in Progress articles. What did we find in our second week in Eorzea? Find out and then tell us what you think in the comments.

Quick! Name a major title that launched earlier this week with several issues causing player headaches. If you said "Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn", you win a hearty handshake. We begin our review in progress series today with a few early impressions and many thoughts about launch day. Read on and then share your experiences in the comments.

Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn was at this year's PAX East, but if you were looking for any new information, you may have come away disappointed. Read on for our breakdown of the Final Fantasy panel.

The arrival of last week's Final Fantasy XIV v1.19 patch has been heralded by many players as a 'game changer', a great step in the right direction for the troubled game. Others, however, are less than impressed. MMORPG.com's Adam Tingle has taken a look at the v1.19 patch and offers a few impressions from the perspective of FFXIV veterans and for those returning/new players. Check it out and then weigh in with your impressions in the comments.

With the v1.19 patch set to hit Final Fantasy XIV later this week, MMORPG.com's Adam Tingle decided to check out the game. It's been over a year and a lot of updates and changes have been implemented since Adam's last foray. He's got a lot to say about Final Fantasy as it stands now. Read on!

In her latest feature for MMORPG.com, writer Carolyn Koh takes on the Herculean task of writing about Final Fantasy XIV. Carolyn readily admits that the article is a 'first look' at the game as the depth of FFXIV will require more time to pen an authoritative review. However, Carolyn has some strong opinions about what she's experienced thus far, even going so far as to call it a 'love hate' relationship. Check out Carolyn's thoughts about Final Fantasy XIV and then add yours on our forums.

At the recent PAX convention, MMORPG.com's Carolyn Koh sat in on the Square Enix panel. The discussion, of course, centered on Square Enix's latest MMO, Final Fantasy XIV. The team presented information about player community, quests, boss mobs and more. Keep reading to find out what else Carolyn discovered during the PAX panel.

MMORPG.com columnist Michael Lafferty tackles one of MMO players' biggest complaints: THE GRIND. Michael has discovered that, as his title says, sometimes you just have to grind it. With this in mind, Michael talks to several game developers about the issue. Find out what they have to say about THE GRIND, leveling, starting areas and trying not to make games feel like work.

Awards

The new year is upon us, and that can only mean one thing. Time for us to look back at the year that was while bracing for the year ahead and recount the best (and worst) games we played during the last twelve months. The entire writing staff of MMORPG.com was polled for this year’s awards, and each game that won had a majority vote in its favor.

It hasn’t been a great year for NEW games in the MMO genre. But it sure was a pretty great year for veteran MMOs. So while we look forward to the crop of big Indie releases in 2018 and 2019, let’s look back at 2017 and count our blessings for the games that keep on pumping out great content. These were voted on by all staff, single vote only, and no ties were allowed. Some were close, but a winner was chosen in each category! Here is MMORPG.com’s Best of 2017 Awards.

Another E3, another week of insane gaming news. Light though it was on MMO info, online games in general were all over the place in LA last week. And as we’re wont to do, we’re giving them shiny badges for the sole purpose of hoping they’ll share those badges with their adoring fans. What, you expected me to lie about the reason behind awards? HA. I’m way past that, folks.

If this year of MMO releases can be categorized by any one thing, it might be that the existing MMOs in the landscape had great years, while we wait for the next big thing to come along. Meanwhile, the single player RPG had an absolutely stellar time, with some truly amazing games and expansions released throughout the calendar year. We’ve polled our staff, and these are the games we loved the most in 2015, and the ones we’re looking forward to the most in 2016.

It’s that time of year! Time to blather on about the games we drooled over the most at E3 2015. Yes, we know these awards mean very little in the grand scheme of things. But stop being so pessimistic. Games are fun, and being excited about the ones you want to play in the future is part of what makes this hobby so great. So without further ado, here are our picks for the Best of E3 2015.

A new year, and that means it's time to look back at the past. Our annual Players' Choice awards where you get to vote on your favorite games from the year are coming soon, but we're leading things off with the Staff Picks for the best games of 2013 across a range of categories. Read on and find out what we picked!

It's that time of year when the staff of MMORPG.com gets together and looks back over the long list of 2011's MMOs in order to hand out our coveted "Best Of..." awards. See what we think were the movers and shakers of 2011. Have different thoughts? Let us know in the comments!

The month of December has come and gone, taking 2010 with it. Some say good riddance, some look back fondly, but no matter how you slice it, that puppy’s behind us and we’re all moving forward to 2011. For the team here at MMORPG.com, we’ve just got one tiny loose thread to tie up before we officially start the new year: We have to announce the winners of the 2010 MMORPG.com Reader’s Choice Awards! Today we take a look at the Biggest Disappointment of 2010.

In today's round of voting in the 2010 Reader's Choice awards here at MMORPG.com, we invite you to check out this year's crop of new games and select your favorite, or even 'none of the above' for 2010.

Event Blogs

Last night at the end of the first day of Final Fantasy FanFest Frankfurt Square Enix hosted a first for them. A press conference at the end of a FanFest. Naoki Yoshida, director and producer of Final Fantasy XIV fielded a series of questions from the media.

For one weekend only Frankfurt Germany became the Mecca for Final Fantasy XIV. Earlier this morning Square Enix kicked off their third and Final Fantasy FanFest prior to the launch of their newest expansion Stormblood. To get the celebration rolling Naoki Yoshida opened the event with his keynote speech after an expanded Stormblood cinematic.

Columns

Cosplay competitions have become a staple of MMO fan festivals, showcasing some extraordinary skill and creativity. Even so, the contest at the European leg of this year’s Final Fantasy XIV FanFest was especially challenging, as time became a crucial factor. Some creators drew inspiration from the recently released Shadowbringers trailer, giving themselves a few short months to build an outfit.

FanFest is for the fans. It’s an opportunity for players worldwide to come together and celebrate Final Fantasy XIV, meet the developers behind the game, and hear exclusive news first-hand. Members of the press are invited (yours truly included), but interview sessions are usually saved for Gamescom and E3.

We've got the third installment in fun new series today. We've asked each of the MMORPG.com writers to submit their favorite three MMOs. Check out which ones have inspired Matt Keith and Mitch Gassner in today's edition.

At long last, it’s time to take the fight to Omega in the Alphascape. The sentient super-weapon that dispatched Shinryu and chased Midgardsormr to Hydaelyn is ready to take on the Warrior of Light in the final tier of the eponymous raid series. It’s been a hell of a journey since we first scuffled with Exdeath in the summer of last year, but the end is within reach if you can handle the challenge. (Expect some mild spoilers.)

FFXIV Patch 4.4, Prelude in Violet, went live today! It brings two new dungeons, a new trial, four more raid encounters to end the Omega series — and, of course, a traditionally encyclopedic list of patch notes.

Red Thomas attempted to introduce some of his nieces and nephews to gaming over the last week. Several have gotten old enough to understand how to play an MMO, so he decided to give it a rip starting with Final Fantasy XIV Online and then World of Warcraft. Which game did this favorite Uncle find most appealing to the kids?

The Moonfire Faire, FFXIV’s summer celebration, is back for 2018. Head on down to Costa Del Sol for fireworks and festivities as Eorzea’s most-eccentric gillionaire splashes out on an excuse to hand out swimsuits.

I’m not much of a monster hunter. Believe me, I’ve tried. No matter how many times I’ve wandered out of camp ready to slay a lizard several times bigger than me with an egregiously large sword on my back, I always end up struggling with the most basic of foes before being sent home on a stretcher. There are people out there who’re made for this sort of thing, and I’m not one of them.

August is always a busy month for Final Fantasy XIV. True, I’m not sure there’s ever been a major content patch in the dog days of summer, but not only does it mark two seasonal events — the Moonfire Faire and the Rising — but also the anniversary of the game’s rebirth.

It was a struggle, but I did it: I’ve finally cleared every floor of Heaven-on-High, introduced earlier this month in FFXIV patch 4.35. Long-time readers of this column will know that I was excited for the latest Deep Dungeon for months, and, now I’ve finally managed to clear it, I have to say I’m really satisfied with what was released. Here are my thoughts following my first successful foray to HoH’s greatest heights.

It’s not been a good year for brand spanking new games in the MMORPG realm. Heck, when was the last time it was? But that doesn’t mean the games we already have haven’t been making a strong showing. In fact, some of the most popular games in the world right now are those that have been out for years already. Here is our list of the Best MMOs of 2018 So Far (in no particular order).

Final Fantasy XIV producer Naoki Yoshida is back with another live letter. This month’s instalment offers a look about the upcoming Monster Hunter collaboration and the next Eureka expedition, as well as the first concrete details about Patch 4.4, Prelude in Violet.

It’s been a long time coming. Deep Dungeons have returned to FFXIV, with Heaven-on-High offering Stormblood’s take on Palace of the Dead. These randomly generated dungeons were a highlight of Heavensward,and showcased a completely new approach to the game. Now I’ve had some hands-on time with the sequel, something struck me about what PotD got wrong — and HoH gets right.

Long-time readers of this column will know that if there’s one piece of content I’m keen to talk about, it’s FFXIV’s Deep Dungeon. Palace of the Dead was the subject of my first post, nearly two years ago, and it’s something that’s remained really close to my heart. I maintain that hitting Floor 200 is one of the most satisfying activities you can do in XIV, and my willingness to do so again now is only dulled by the fact it caps out at level 60.

A few months ago, I wrote about The Forbidden Land of Eureka, a new endgame area in Final Fantasy XIV. The colourfully named zone hosts an untamed wilderness, full of enemies far stronger than anything you might find on mainland Eorzea that’s modelled after an older generation of MMORPGS — there’s ridiculously strong mobs, rare spawns, and even EXP loss on death, and high-level gear for those who’re able to overcome its challenges.

While the world has been watching and waiting for the news that’s coming out of E3, there’s been another event that’s been grabbing attention. FFXIV’s newest Ultimate-series raid, The Weapon’s Refrain, is here, and the game’s top raid groups have been vying to be the first to clear. It’s been an absolutely crazy week on XIV Twitch watching this unfold, with people discovering what worked — and, indeed, what didn’t work — with each passing hour.

New in FFXIV patch 4.3 is The Ridorana Lighthouse, the latest 24-man raid in the Return to Ivalice series. It picks up from where the Rabanastre story left off, and is one of the most artistically impressive dungeons released to date. The instance is also chock-full of old FF throwbacks, with XII music thrown in to boot.

Final Fantasy XIV is a big game. Maps are separated by loading zones, so Eorzea doesn’t feel quite as open as, say, Azeroth, but there’s a lot to do. There are 60 dungeons and nearly 50 trials, and, thanks to the roulette system, these all get run almost every day.

Stormblood, FFXIV’s latest expansion, built upon much of the game’s core systems — in particular, many jobs and their roles were significantly changed. This feels particularly impactful in terms of utility buffs; Bard now applies passive crit damage, while Dragoon is even more essential than ever thanks to Dragon Sight. Even Monk gained something, with Brotherhood, a physical buff that feeds power back to the caster based on their critical hits.

In February 2016, the developers of FFXIV implemented something that’s a very good idea on paper: a mentorship system. XIV’s always been great at accommodating newer players, such as by offering a bonus when taking someone through content for the first time, and allowing players to mark themselves as mentors seems like a natural extension of that.

A couple of weeks ago, I vowed to return to Eureka after I’d spent more time with it (You can read my initial impressions here). I’ve been back in a few of times since then, and, unfortunately, I’ve had a lot of trouble getting much further. The content isn’t for me, but I still love what it represents, and I’m happy it’s scratched an itch for a bygone era of MMOs that a lot of people miss.

Yesterday was the first of April, so you know what that means: Hoaxes abound, with Google pitching a run of fake products and Burger King touting a chocolate Whopper. Sadly, this column was due out the day after April Fool’s Day, so I wasn’t able to join in.

Well, this is unexpected. Just a couple of weeks after making a start, my static has cleared God Kefka, bringing the curtain down on the most difficult content in FFXIV’s latest patch. I recently wrote about the raids leading up to the final encounter and said I’d revisit the topic when we cleared the fight, but I didn’t anticipate it’d happen quite so soon. Still, it did — and I couldn’t be happier.

At long last, it’s finally here. Eureka — easily one of the most eagerly anticipated features of Stormblood — launched last Tuesday, and it’s fair to say it’s unlike anything else in FFXIV. In many ways, that’s arguably its greatest strength — as well as its greatest weakness. Eureka is many things depending on who you ask, but I think one thing everyone can agree on is that it’s divisive.

When patch 4.2 was released, one of the first things I did was review the new PvE content. However, I’m not a part of a particularly hardcore group, so I wasn’t able to see much of Savage beyond the first couple of fights. A month later, we’ve cleared Kefka — and started working on taking down his bigger, badder final form. Now I’ve fought through the majority of the encounters, it’s the perfect time to put down my thoughts about the FFXIV’s current round of hardcore content.

We recently looked at the PVE content in FFXIV patch 4.2 — in particular, the raid, and Byakko, the new trial. But what about everything else that was added? The Stormblood story rages on, new housing wards have been opened up, and the Glamour overhaul that was long promised is finally here — so let’s take a closer look now we’ve had some time to play around with everything. (Warning: Minor spoilers ahead.)

This month’s FFXIV live letter was broadcast on Saturday, with producer Naoki Yoshida hosting a Q&A elaborating on — among other things — what life will be like in Eureka, a new zone and activity coming in patch 4.25.

I’m going to hold off on discussing story content for at least a week to give people a chance to avoid spoilers and enjoy it themselves. Instead, I’m going to talk PvE, after spending a lot of time this week grappling with the new high-level content. Let’s start with the second part of the Omega raid series, Sigmascape, which pits you against enemies from FFVI.

It’s time to bury the Deltascape, leave Skalla at home and say goodbye to Shinryu — because at long last, Final Fantasy XIV Patch 4.2 comes out tomorrow! Draft patch notes for Rise of a New Sun have been released, along with a trailer showing some of the Warrior of Light’s coming travails.

Square Enix has released more information about FFXIV patch 4.2, Rise of a New Sun, which is due out later in the month. They’re showing off the new glamour system, a new PVP arena and the Ananta beast tribe quests that’ll debut when it arrives. No word on a release date yet, but if you want a peek at what’s coming up, here’s what’s on the horizon.

Happy new year, everybody! 2017 was an incredible year for FFXIV, and 2018 is already looking great. There’s a lot to look forward to in the short term: a new patch is dropping at the end of the month, along with a new raid tier, a new primal, as well as a continuation of Stormblood’s story, and shortly after that we’ll get Eureka and the next relic weapon grind. If you’re lucky, maybe someone you know in game will have sent you a gift to commemorate the year gone by.

We recently awarded our MMO of the year to Final Fantasy XIV, and for good reason. It’s been another banner year for Final Fantasy fans and their MMORPG, but it’s not the only MMO that had a solid 2017. Sure enough, there weren’t many great new games to play in 2017. But we’re taking a look at the games we played, in beta and fully launched, and picking our favorites.

Merry Christmas! The Starlight Celebration, FFXIV’s festive event, returns for another year. Decorations have been stolen from a town in the black shroud, and one of the witnesses says that they were taken by the trees themselves.

Final Fantasy XIV means a lot to me and my partner. When I was about to study for my postgraduate degree in another city a few hours away, it occurred to us that this would be the first time that she and I would be forced to spend a long time apart from each other after years of living together while I got my diploma.

Tis’ the season to... Well, I guess it’s the season to hurt each other as much as possible. Season 6 of The Feast, FFXIV’s ranked PVP mode, started last week. This one will run until 4.2; interestingly, it’s not running until 4.25, which suggests this will either be a fairly short season, or the gap between now and 4.2 will be pretty long.

FFXIV patch 4.15 took off on Tuesday, bringing the game’s first all-new PVP mode since The Feast. Rival Wings pits two teams of 24 players against each other, along with a host of highly stylised ‘machina’ — vehicles that look like the mechs from the Alexander raid series. I’ve had time to play a few games, and I have to say, in terms of XIV, there’s really nothing like it.

Jump Potions are a relatively new addition to FFXIV, though they aren’t something I’ve covered before. Introduced alongside Stormblood, they’re cash-shop purchases that let you skip much of the game’s levelling process and start straight on one of the expansions.

It’s safe to say that Square Enix knows a thing or two about hard MMO boss fights. Final Fantasy XI, which is still alive and kicking, made news nearly a decade ago for the introduction of an eighteen-hour fight, Absolute Virtue. In more recent times, those who fought Living Liquid’s Savage variant on XIV seem to have formed a loose survivors’ association.

Halloween is here! At least, FFXIV’s stand-in festival, All Saints’ Wake, is. As with previous years, it’s more trick-or-treat than genuine Friday the 13th. But that’s OK! You’ll be paired up with Soga, an Othardian wolfman who’s travelled to Gridania following the liberation of Doma.

Last Tuesday saw the release of The Legend Returns, Stormblood’s first major content update. Patch 4.1 brings a wealth of features including a new 24-man raid, an extreme primal and a continuation of the storyline after the liberation of Ala Mhigo.

For our next two lists, we’ll be diving into the NPCs of our favorite MMORPGs to find the best heroes and villains across the genre. This week, we’re starting with the good guys, picking our 10 favorite MMORPG heroes of all time.

This week we’re ranking the 10 best story-driven MMOs of all time. That means we’re going to try and put numbers on feelings we all have for the narratives we play through when we’re living in these virtual worlds. It’s a tall order, and one we’re sure you’ll have some mixed emotions over. Without further ado, here are our 10 Best Story Driven MMOs of All Time.

It’s here! There’s finally a trailer for FFXIV Patch 4.1, Stormblood’s first major content update. It was released as part of Naoki Yoshida’s monthly Letter from the Producer Live, and shows — among other things — the footage from the 24-man raid, super-savage, and Rival Wings, a brand new PVP mode that lets you fight alongside a Cruise Chaser. It’s like all my namedays came at once!

When Stormblood came out, the very first thing I wrote about was Samurai. New jobs excite me more than anything else, and both SAM and Red Mage have changed FFXIV for the better. It’s been about four months now, and with 4.1 — the first major content patch — coming out on October 10th, I thought now would be a good time to check in with the new additions now the dust has settled and people have (mostly) figured out how jobs are going to play from here on out.

There’s a lot of content in Final Fantasy XIV I’ll never see. Of course, everything’s on YouTube, but stuff that my character will actually reach is another matter. That comes from someone who has seen far more than many others — I’ve been in and out of savage and extreme primals for a good few patches now, and that’s content most of the playerbase has never touched.

It feels like this is a list we should revisit every so often, especially as games change, games launch, and games die in the world of MMORPGs. The following is a list we compiled using something we like to call “our hearts and minds and asses”. Our Top 10 Great MMOs of All Time list is merely our own thoughts, put to paper. We absolutely welcome your own insight, and soon we’ll begin a poll of our users to catalog the Players’ Choice for 2017 too. Now, let’s get on with it!

FFXIV’s annual 14-hour anniversary stream was last week, and with it came a deluge of information about the game’s past, present and future. We learned that the team is considering adding Blitzball or Snowboarding to the Gold Saucer. Yoshida, enjoying a glass of wine, seemed to agree to re-enable the Yo-Kai Watch event on a whim. And it was confirmed that Patch 4.1 — titled ‘The Legend Returns’ — is scheduled to come out early October. (Beware: Minor spoilers ahead.)

FFXIV turned four last week — and that means The Rising, the annual celebration of Eorzea’s rebirth, returns for another year. This time, you’ll be rescuing the Wandering Minstrel, producer Naoki Yoshida’s in-game alter ego, who went missing after a bug-hunting expedition.

It’s been about ten weeks since Stormblood came out — and man, maybe it’s just me, but it feels like years since Heavensward was current. I had to go to Ishgard for something a few days ago and my girlfriend, who was playing in the same room as me, said: “Where ARE you?”

A new season of ranked PVP launched earlier this month in FFXIV. I’ve only touched upon PVP pretty briefly since Stormblood came out, mostly to say that it has drastically improved, so I thought now would be a good time to actually sit down and look at it properly.

It’s summer in Eorzea, and that can only mean one thing: the Moonfire Faire is back for another year. The event has always had a special place in my heart because it was active when I started playing the game, and, as a British person, summer is a season I see very little of.

One thing that’s really hit home with FFXIV raiding is how much of a pain the loot system for Savage raids is. Previously I wasn’t in charge of organizing events — I was just lucky enough to be taken along by my FC — but now I’m scheduling things myself, the main problem I’m coming up against is trying to make sure everybody gets a fair shot at loot.

The first raid of Stormblood is here! Omega went live a couple of weeks ago, and this Tuesday marked the opening of Savage mode, where both the loot and difficulty are cranked up beyond anything else in the game. I’ve played normal to death and I’m on the second Savage encounter, so I thought I’d put down some of my thoughts. Beware: spoilers ahead.

Shortly after the launch of Stormblood, it became apparent that Dragoon was in a terrible position, both in terms of its DPS potential and its fun factor. The changes made to the Job did indeed streamline Dragoon, but it’s damage dropped, intentionally in part because Square Enix appears to be positioning the Job as a “support” DPS (a’la Bard),but also due to some frustrating changes to the Job’s mechanics.

Anybody who plays Final Fantasy XIV knows that the easiest way to get stuff done that Duty Finder can’t handle is to find a static — a term unique to FFXIV and its predecessor, XI, that’s basically just a fancy term for a set raid group.

Ever since I quit Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn at level 39 shortly after launch, I’ve been inundated with claims that the game gets better in the 40’s. How I could I quit? I was so close to seeing the better side of the game! Yeah, well, I just couldn’t do it. As beautiful as the game was, it was just a drag to play through, so I quit.

Last week I reviewed Stormblood for MMORPG.com and had a long list of good things to say about it. But I couldn’t talk too much about the story for fear of spoiling it for people who were still on the fence about buying the expansion or who hadn’t yet completed it. Thar be SPOILERS AHEAD! Consider yourself warned!

Patch 4.01, the first post-Stormblood patch, included heavy handed nerfs to PvP experience in order to address the AFK issue, and it’s my opinion that the changes will do little to discourage AFKers while simultaneously punishing everyone else.

Stormblood is here! After a rough launch in which Raubahn single-handedly (see what I did there?) held up the main quest for most of us and everybody learned to queue like the British, things are finally straightening out, and we’re finally able to explore the brave new world of Othard and Ala Mhigo.

Despite the game’s strong PvE leanings, Yoshi-P continues to make the case for PvP in FFXIV with the addition of new PvP content introduced to the game over time. But despite the team’s efforts, it’s never really taken off until the release of the game’s latest expansion, Stormblood.

Today marks the official worldwide launch of Final Fantasy XIV’s second expansion, Stormblood. To celebrate, we’re listing off the top five new features being added to the game with this update. This is a sponsored article, so it’ll be more informative than exclamatory. Hang onto your butts, here’s what’s new in Eorzea with Stormblood.

We’ve heard for a long time that big changes are coming to FFXIV when Stormblood finally launches — and now, just weeks away from early access, we have an idea of what we’re going to see, thanks to this month’s Letter from the Producer.

I’ve got a love/hate relationship with Final Fantasy XIV. I’ve had the pleasure of interviewing Naoki Yoshida from the early days of the effort he lead to rescue the game, through to its successful re-release with A Realm Reborn. The man and his team are incredibly passionate about the work they’re doing and continue to do. FFXIV is gorgeous and I even enjoy the “slower” combat, and yet, I just can’t stick it out with FFXIV.

The pre-expansion season is always a weird time to play an MMO. If you’re anything like me, then you’re probably stuck between having things you still want to do on FFXIV and thinking that nothing you do now will matter once Stormblood comes out anyway.

Final Fantasy XIV producer Naoki Yoshida has been teasing some screenshots from Stormblood showing new abilities for the game’s many jobs. It’s already been stated that Square Enix want to reduce the number of useless skills — like Feign and Featherfoot — but the overall amount probably won’t go down too much, so everyone should have a few extra tools by the time they hit level 70.

Final Fantasy XIV’s Letter from the Producer series is always a treat. And with Stormblood so close you can practically taste it, the shows are stuffed to the gills with content. If you missed the stream — or don’t fancy wading through translations for the good info — here’s everything you need to know from this month’s stream.

It’s April. The expansion’s just over the horizon. So you’d be forgiven for wondering what the best use of your remaining subbed time would be. Well, if you’re not interested in Palace of the Dead, recent patches have opened a new option to casual players: Alexander Savage.

It’s another big week in FFXIV news! You’d think things that would quiet down a little, given that there was a patch LAST WEEK. But the game’s director, Naoki Yoshida, held a PAX panel and fielded some media interviews that shed a lot of light onto the future of the game. It’s worth getting clued.

I had an amazing time at Final Fantasy FanFest 2017 in Frankfurt, Germany. I was able to walk the floor early and see all the festivities planned for the revelers before the show opened to the general public. From the hundreds of computers set up for the duty roulettes and the PvP tournament to the giant Magitech Armor Square Enix really knows how to put on a show.

Diadem’s back! The exploratory missions initially introduced in Patch 3.1 — and then temporarily nyxed in 3.5 — have made a return to the game, bringing with them new content and some familiar problems.

January saw The Far Edge of Fate Part 1 hit Final Fantasy XIV, with new raids, dungeons, and other bonus content. The next part (3.55a) drops this Tuesday, along with most of the content we’ll get before Stormblood.

As Bill is always telling me, it's never a slow week in gaming news and this week is no exception. From the EU Final Fantasy Fanfest that our own Rob Lashley attended and killed news wise to Blizzard's big week for updates to a ton of videos showing off some of our favorite and upcoming titles, it was a great week to be a gamer.

Class balance is one of the most difficult things to get ‘right’ in an MMORPG. I remember how much time I spent getting frustrated about what other people had that I didn’t back when I played WoW in the vanilla days, and how lucky I felt playing a Guardian in Guild Wars 2 given how much everybody wanted me in World v World.

Another extreme trial comes with Final Fantasy XIV’s latest patch, The Far Edge of Fate. This time it’s our boy Zurvan, the Demon of the Warring Triad, in Containment Bay Z1T9 — but you can call him Zurvy.

Patch 3.5 is here! With The Far Edge of Fate, we have a new raid, a new extreme primal and two dungeons to chew on. That — along with a host of quality of life changes and additions across the board — have really built upon the content available. This is only part one, with the second part due in March, but what’s here is hugely substantial.

The patch notes for Heavensward’s final chapter are finally here! It feels like we learned about Zurvan of the Warring Triad, Dun Scaith and a brand new Diadem a lifetime ago — but now we have hard information about what’s in 3.5. Here’s what you need to know.

Big news from Square Enix this weekend: the patch 3.5 microsite is live, along with a trailer — and it’s one of the best yet. Also, Heavensturn, one of the lighter annual events on the XIV calendar, has begun! It started on New Year’s Eve and will trundle along until patch 3.5 hits later this month (January 17).

Happy New Year, folks! Fanfest Japan is over, and, if you’re anything like me, holiday celebrations dragged you away from keeping a close eye on things. Never fear! Here’s a summary of the important bits from the Stormblood keynote and producer Naoki Yoshida’s live letter XXXIV.

Let’s take a look back at the year that was. A rough year for many, especially MMOs. Still, the game industry continues to move forward and games remain a multi-billion dollar industry. MMOs still make tremendous amounts of money, now through cash shops and in game purchases, it seems like the full formula of a successful community has finally come into being.

It’s the end of the year as we know it, and that means it’s time for us here at MMORPG.com to gather around and salute our picks for the best MMOs and RPGs of 2016, plus the ones we’re most anxious for in 2017. Read on for our Best of 2016 Awards!

Housing is one of the best things about FFXIV. Despite being entirely optional, player housing is fully-featured and a big part of the game’s culture. It’s the first thing people include in Free Company advertisements — “We have a large house in The Mist!” — and an excellent platform for player creativity. It’s also perhaps the ultimate vanity purchase. Bored of glamoring your gear and have gil to burn? Wait ‘til you see how expensive furniture can be!

For the most part, playing how you want is fine. But there’s one area where I cannot stress enough that conventional knowledge is incorrect: the idea that healers shouldn’t DPS is preposterous, and anybody who says otherwise is wrong, wrong wrong.

Final Fantasy XV is out now. One of the draws of FFXIV is the Final Fantasy brand, and so a very large chunk of my friends list have taken a hiatus to go on the road trip of a lifetime. I assume the same is true everywhere, because it’s selling extremely well.

It’s that time of month again: Yoshida hops in front of a camera to tell people what’s coming in the next major content patch. 3.5 will drop in January, and Stormblood is coming ‘early summer’, so this will represent the state of the game for anything up to six months. 3.5 ‘part two’ will drop in March, but if it’s anything like 2.55, it won’t have a huge amount of content in it outside of some story quests.

It’s safe to say that The Binding Coil of Bahamut series is one of the best raids in any modern MMO. Whether or not you like FFXIV, there’s a hell of a lot to admire. The encounter design is great: it’s hard to look at the fight with Bahamut and not be awed, and everyone who’s done the fourth stage has memories of Twintania’s divebombs. But, more to the point, the story is fantastic.

Another month, another FFXIV patch: 3.45 brings gifts including a new season of ranked PvP and the next part of the relic weapon quest chain. But the most significant addition is the update to Palace of the Dead, the “deep dungeon” that debuted a couple of patches ago. Previously limited to 50 floors, it now goes on for a whopping 200. But where exactly are we headed? “Hellsward,” the unlock screen declares, playing with the title of the last expansion.

This year’s North American Fan Festival is being held Friday October 14th, and Saturday October 15th at the Paris Las Vegas Hotel & Casino. Tickets are $135 for both days. With that $135 you’ll get admission to the convention as well as a physical swag bag and in game goods. Those in games goods are a Rikku minion and a glamour outfit listed as a “secret” because they haven’t finished it yet.

With the recent terrorist attacks in mind, I send out my condolences to all of those who lost or even have an injured loved one. In real life, we tend to stick together in such tragedies, give each other a pat on the back and help each other out of these tough times. On the other side, in the world of video games, it’s not that different, since it’s the same people in real life who play them.

Everything this week is meant to ramp up the hype for specific gameplay aspects of Final Fantasy XIV Patch 3.1. Over the past two weeks, Square Enix has been teasing screenshots and a little lore regarding what we should expect in As Goes Light, So Goes Darkness.

In the same vein, we’re going to piggyback on last week’s List of the Five Best MMOs for New Players and suggest five more MMORPGs that you should at least give a try if you’re looking for a new game. And next week, we’ll take it a step further and recommend five “deep cuts” for the hardcore crowd!

A few days back, Square Enix released slides for the Eorzean Census on the following Lodestone post. I had quite a bit of fun just looking over each bit of information, figuring out WHY certain things were the way they are. While I don’t really have any answers for that, I thought it might be nice to discuss my 5 favorite takeaways from the Eorzean Census.

It’s hard to believe that it’s July, and we’ve already seen a number of highly-anticipated titles release in the first half of the year. Pillars of Eternity, The Witcher 3, and Final Fantasy XIV: Heavensward are all out, The Elder Scrolls Online has launched on consoles, and there have been open beta or “live” releases for Trove, Heroes of the Storm, and Skyforge.

I’m not going to lie to you: 2015 hasn’t exactly been full of big moments of big announcements. Maybe it’s because all of the best ideas are already taken, maybe it’s because everyone likes different things, or maybe it’s because developers and publishers are getting lazy, but there’s no denying the fact that the MMO genre has seen better years. From a lack of real excitement or hype around releases, to a lack of innovation, it’s not like it used to be.

E3 2015 was a historic event for the gaming industry. Whether you’re an old-school gamer that was dying to finally see Final Fantasy VII’s remake announced, one of the few people that held out hope The Last Guardian was still a thing, or just a fan of gaming looking forward to the biggest and best new games the industry has to offer, there was something for everyone. Hell, we even got the first ever PC Gaming Show this year! That has literally never happened.

In a post titled, “New players and the expansion. Massive barrier to entry. You have been warned,” user Foomerang discussed how the currently-known requirements to access Heavensward content in the future were a bit of a frustrating thing for someone who preferred playing the game as a crafter-gatherer type. So, how bad is it really?

Victor discusses some new videos as the hype train for Final Fantasy XIV: Heavensward chugs along. Today’s talk is less of me talking and more of you folks watching a bunch of videos. To wit, there are actually four videos we’ve got in store for you today with regard to Heavensward, so we’ll start with the order they’ve been presented in YouTube, save for this one video that’s already been shown in a previous news release.

The past two weeks have actually been quite calm in terms of big announcements, but Square Enix has made some changes to extend the bridge to more level 50 players seeking to complete the story in preparation for the expansion.

Aside from prepping for Heavensward’s release, here are 7 optional goals you can undertake while waiting for June. These goals are by no means required, but they’ll keep you busy while waiting for the expansion.

As any fan knows, part of loving video games is also being disappointed in them every now and then. This week on Tales from the Neighborhood we’re looking at four disappointed blog posts about Neverwinter, World of Warcraft, Final Fantasy Record Keeper, and MMO communities in general, along with a couple of very positive posts about RIFT’s new wardrobe system.

Is FFXIV more fun than Warlords of Draenor? Are subreddits a good replacement for official forums? Is there anything for MMO players to watch on Twitch right now? We’ll learn what the blogosphere has to say on the topic of these questions and more!

Right now we are in a bit of a lull in the MMO release schedule. Crowdfunding campaigns like Crowfall keep on trucking and the astronomically high level of hype around Star Citizen continues to escalate, but both of those games are pretty far off from a real release. This list isn’t going to mention any current crowdfunding games, nor will it mention stuff that will go into a closed alpha of any kind – only open betas and full releases.

Ah, NPCs. They are such a staple in our MMOs that we not only take them for granted, but we can also ignore them. I always make an attempt to appreciate an MMO’s details, and NPCs are often some of most well-designed aspects of many of our favorite titles.

Love is in the air this time of year. Stores are lines with pink and red decorations, flowers poke out in every direction, and romantic gifts are littered across the aisles. In fact, the upcoming holiday Valentine’s Day just so happens to be on a Saturday this year.

As my habits demand, I check on older MMOs periodically to see what’s new and to possibly download a new trial or even restart an old account. I do it with EVE Online, Ultima Online and other games that just scream nostaglia. Normally I find that the games have aged well but do not change so dramatically that I feel like I am playing a brand new game. Things were different with this visit to Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn.

MMO launches are one of the trickiest things in the world for a developer and publisher to orchestrate. In the case of single player games, the experience can be perfectly balanced and simulated in a controlled environment. For standard multiplayer games, you can easily cap the number of players involved and know how it’s going to turn out in a live scenario. A Massively Multiplayer Game on the other hand, is something else entirely.

Video games almost always fail to measure up to the hype they generate during development. It's pretty unusual to see one that under-promises and over-delivers. Indeed, relatively few even manage to meet the expectations they promote. To be fair, this isn't entirely one-sided since many of us tend to look at upcoming titles through our rose-colored glasses. Naturally, relative to how we think or hope they'll turn out, some disappoint more than others.

Some of you may be wondering what’s so special about this tribe of beastmen that merits everyone’s support all of a sudden? Simply put, the Ehcatl Nine Beast Tribe Quests mix tangible gameplay rewards for crafters in the game with the promise of a rousing tale told incrementally as you continue the questline.

Unlike previous FFXIV mini-patches, Patch 2.35 provides an entirely new incentive to leveling a new crafting class. There’s a Beast Tribe that wants your help making items for them, and it’s up to you to be the goodwill ambassador and get them what they need.

Of all the MMO’s from AAA studios that have come out in the past 12 months I was probably least excited about Final Fantasy XIV: ARR. I’ve been a lifelong fan of the FF franchise but after the original XIV I was a member of the “fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice - can’t get fooled again” crowd. Because I did not have high expectations for the game upon its release I was pleasantly surprised when I set out to review it.

Instead of a small number of long updates, we seem to have a lot of little awesome things to discuss this week, from free trials, to hunt theorycrafting, to a 14-hour Japanese extravaganza commemorating the first year of A Realm Reborn. Join me as we round up the awesome for a bit of discussion.

For a lot of people, logging on to their favorite MMO isn’t about raiding, or PvP, or dungeon runs – it’s about creating great items and contributing to the backbone of an MMOs economy. I’ve never personally been a huge proponent of crafting in MMOs, but there is undoubtedly a certain type of players that loves the art of creation and trading.

In the MMO genre I believe developers should focus on building worlds, not just games. The more developers do to create engaging settings that players grow to care about and become invested in the more enriching the experience it will be for the players. This in turn will make it more financially rewarding for the developers. Loyal customers, especially in an increasingly microtransaction dominated gaming economy, help keep games a float.

I tell you about the awe-inspiring and terrifying power of connectedness to others because someone told me a tale that remindedly deeply of how the bonds that tie us together can also be the very one that break us entirely. This is the tale of a young woman named Edda, her adventuring band, and the severed head she carried in a box after our first fateful meeting.

How many people do you interact with reasonably often in your current MMO? How many of those people are outside of your guild? Assuming you have played MMO’s for awhile, is your pattern of socialization today similar to that back when you started?

Let’s welcome back the Final Fantasy XIV column to MMORPG.com by getting everyone up to speed with Patch 2.3: Defenders of Eorzea. We’ve got new activities to enjoy, a fearsome primal to defeat, Moogle and Hildibrand goodness to experience, and personal chambers to decorate with awesome crafted goodies.

Final Fantasy XIV added content update 2.1, A Realm Awakened, in December 2013. With a month to experience the content, Ryahl provides a review of the end-game PVE content expansions offered in this update. Come along for the ride and read about the good and awkward parts of this massive update.

As we embark on an exciting new year of MMO releases, we reflect back on the year that was. Though 2013 was light on new MMOs, it was filled to the brim with games fighting for our attention. Patch after patch hit our newsreels. Games such as EVE Online and Lord of the Rings Online spun heads with their expansions. Two of the bigger new games, Final Fantasy XIV and Neverwinter, both impressed and addicted us. Today we reflect on the best. Join us as we countdown the top ten Best MMOs of 2013.

Now that the new year has officially debuted, it's time to take a look back at 2013 and the MMOs that we loved...or not. Read the latest from Adam Tingle to see what he feels are the highlights of the year 2013. Leave us your thoughts in the comments.

Last week, Rob Lashley gave you three words to sum up 2013. This week, he is back, this time with three questions for the forthcoming year. See what Rob wants to know before heading to the comments to tell us what you want to find out in 2014.

Square Enix made a lot of Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn players swoon with delight over the recent announcement of a robust housing system incoming. In our latest FFXIV column, we take a look at the announcement and provide our own special version of House Hunters.

Gold sellers are the bane of many a game's existence. Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn is not exempt either. But in our latest FFXIV column, we take a look at the proactive steps that Square Enix is taking in that regard. Check it out and then leave your reactions in the comments.

In our latest Free Zone column, we take a look at what may potentially lie ahead for subscriptions. Can we go back to "the way we were" as in the heady early days of MMOs? See what we think and then leave your own ideas in the comments.

Square Enix and the Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn team were on hand at the Tokyo Game Show recently with some new game information. We've got the full wrap report so keep reading before heading to the comments to chat.

Subscriptions are the hot topic lately with three big-name titles opting to go with a subscription based revenue model. In today's Social Hub, we take a look at the potential impact that subscriptions have on today's games. Read on and then leave your thoughts in the comments.

Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn is an overall awesome experience, but the feel of the Summoner Job can be a bit underwhelming. This week, we offer up some suggestions on how to improve one of the game's most iconic Jobs.

The talk about subscription-based games has been ongoing for the past several weeks since several major titles announced their intentions to utilize subs. In our latest Devil's Advocate, we revisit the topic with a few additional thoughts about the revenue model. Read on and then leave your reactions in the comments.

With the recent debut of Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn, the first update was, naturally, a seasonal event. In our latest FFXIV column, we wonder at how much fun these types of events truly are. See what we think before lending your voice to the conversation in the comments.

Welcome back to another edition of Player Versus Player! Each week MMORPG pits two of its writers against each other in a battle to the death – or at least a spirited debate. Final Fantasy XIV relaunched last week and reminded us all of how disastrous the first days and weeks of a new MMO can be. This go-round, our combatants step to their podiums ready to duke it out on a topic you probably have first-hand experience with: MMO launches.

Now that Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn has made its official debut, players are moving up the ranks and taking on some of the game's bosses. In our latest Eorzea Reborn column, we take a look at five awesome early level bosses. Read on and then tell us what you think of our choices in the comments.

To today's Devil's Advocate, we take a look at this summer's most anticipated MMO, Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn and a topic that many players may not be aware of as they log into the game. Find out what you might be missing and then head to the comments to leave us your thoughts.

Last weekend's launch of Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn was a huge event, both for players and developers. The excitement over a launch is similar to that an author goes through when planning a start to a new book. In her latest column, Genese Davis looks at the parallels. See what she's got to say before heading to the comments.

Today's MMOs are services as much as they are games, and the quality of Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn's service thus far is completely at odds with the quality of the game we received. This week, we break down the service aspect in part one of a two part series.

Welcome back to another edition of Player Versus Player. This is the column where MMORPG.com writers collide and debate the topics you care about. It’s easy to get drowned out arguing on forums and sub-reddits, so we step to the podium to represent your side of the issue before turning it over to you in the comments. Ready for another spirited debate? See what our combatants think of the ever-present subscription vs free to play issue before leaving your thoughts in the commments.

In today's Free Zone, we take a look at the recent spate of announcements by several game studios that upcoming titles such as WildStar and Elder Scrolls Online will feature subscription-based revenue models. Check out our thoughts on the subject before leaving your ideas in the comments.

The recent news about WildStar's subscription model has sparked a fair bit of chatter on our forums and across the MMO social sphere. Today, Rob Lashley opines as to why the subscription model is alright by him.

In today's MMO space, much of what made the genre great has been taken out, namely the will to -achieve- things as opposed to being given them. In his latest column, our Managing Editor Bill Murphy talks about why achievement is important and why it matters. See if you agree before leaving your thoughts in the comments.

Now that we've had a couple weeks to digest the news regarding EverQuest Next, it's time to reflect on the things that struck us as simply amazing. See what we chose before adding your thoughts in the comments.

The discussion ever rages about whether or not any MMO these days can be classified as a sandbox or a theme park. In today's Eorzea Reborn, we take a look at aspects of both that are present in Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn. Check it out and then leave us your opinion in the comments.

Lightning is one of the most iconic of all Final Fantasy characters, warranting her own game. There is and will be a connection between Lightning and Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn. Find out what it is in our latest column and then leave your thoughts in the comments.

Final Fantasy MMOs have always been about PvE, but is there something to be said about Square Enix's plans for PvP in Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn? Read on for our thoughts and share your own with us in the comments!

The third beta phase for Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn is in the books now and players who've taken part are having to wait for the commencement of beta 4 to reenter the game. We've got a beta 3 wrap report to share that you won't want to miss if you're keen to know more about the upcoming game. Read more before leaving your thoughts in the comments.

Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn stands on the unprecedented edge of getting a second chance at release. In our latest FFXIV: ARR column, we take a look forward while still looking back. Check it out before heading to the comments.

Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn will launch with numerous Jobs iconic to the Final Fantasy series, but there are still quite a few left unrepresented. In this week's column, we offer up a couple of Job picks to add post-launch. Read on and share your own shortlist with us in the comments!

In our latest look at all things Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn, we check out what the crafting and harvesting systems will be like for players. Find out more about the two and then leave your thoughts in the comments.

Square Enix is getting an unheard of second chance to attract and maintain an audience for Final Fantasy XIV after a disastrous earlier launch. In today's Tingle's Touchy Subjects, we take a look at that notion for FFXIV and other games as well. See what we've got to say before joining in on the conversation in the comments.

Now that the NDA is partially lifted, we have so much to say about Square Enix's Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn. During our time in game, we discovered five great things about FFXIV: ARR. See what they are and then leave your ideas in the comments.

Now that the PS3 crowd has finally joined Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn's closed beta, it's time to offer a few beta tidbits about what's new and different. Check out our thoughts before lending your voice to the conversation in the comments.

During E3, the MMO space was rocked by the announcement that several big MMO titles would be headed to next-gen consoles. What is the likelihood of success? We take a look at that today and hope you'll offer your thoughts in the comments after reading.

The List debuts today with another terrific series of games that most MMO players are dying to get their hands on at some point this year. We give you our five top choices so see if you agree before heading to the comments to post your list!

One of the most popular of any MMO's features is the dungeon system. In our latest Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn column, we take a look at a dungeon run through the eyes of a beta tester. Check it out before leaving your thoughts in the comments.

It seems that 'dynamic content' is all the rage in MMOs these days. But sometimes that dynamic content can be a double-edged sword. In today's Eorzea Reborn column, we take a look at how that might manifest in Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn. Read on before heading to the comments.

Square Enix has been working hard to get the good news out about Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn over the past several weeks. But is it making a difference? In today's FFXI: ARR column, we answer that question. Take a look and then discuss the article in the comments.

Crafting seems to be one of the big topics as the shift in MMOs goes from developer created content to player created. In today's Eorzea Reborn, we take a look at the way that crafting has the potential to influence the Final Fantasy: A Realm Reborn economy. Read on and then craft a response in the comments.

One of the things that MMO players are used to more than nearly anything else is the very popular preview option that we are often treated to long before a game is released. In today's Devil's Advocate, we take a look at this singularly unique feature of the MMO game space. Read on and then lend your voice to the discussion in the comments.

Last week, Square Enix announced that the first round of beta testing for Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn will kick off in February. Today we take a look at the prospect of beta testing and what it all means. Read on and then add your voice to the comments.

In a two part series in and around Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn, we will take a look at the differences between cerebral and visceral combat systems and what the developers might have in mind for the game. Check it out and then leave your thoughts in the comments.

As Square Enix gets ready to launch Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn, we take another look at some of the big changes that have been implemented prior to the "world ending" events as the team gets ready to release A Realm Reborn on the world. See what we've got to say before leaving your thoughts in the comments.

We are pleased to introduce a brand new column here at MMORPG.com that will specifically cover Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn. In the inaugural column, we take a look at the changes between the original and now and what we hope will make the FFXIV experience truly reborn. Read on!

Final Fantasy XIV launched officially -the first time- almost two years ago and was met with harsh criticism. Since then, however, Square Enix has show resolve to breathe new life into FFXIV with the forthcoming v2.0 "A Realm Reborn" version. We've got a lot to say about something as remarkable as this. Check it out before adding your thoughts to the comments.

Final Fantasy XIV crashed and burned in 2010, but the re-launch of the game as Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn is fast approaching. The re-launch seems to be flying under the radar for now, but could Square Enix's second try at the game be a dark horse in the MMO genre? Read on as we weigh in!

No, it's not a quiz about Bill Murphy but it is based on his latest list of the worst MMO launches in recent memory. MMORPG.com's Drew Wood took inspiration from The List and created questions for each of the games mentioned plus a few extras. See how you do in The Quiz: Bill Murphy Edition and let us know in the comments below.

The List this week focuses on our favorite MMOs and the learning curves employed. How long it takes a player to pick up and play a game largely determines how long their tenure will be. Find out which games MMORPG.com's Bill Muphy thinks make it tough on the newest players and then add your thoughts on the forums!

In this week's Player Perspectives column, MMORPG.com's Jaime Skelton looks at the newly uncovered fatigue system scheduled for Final Fantasy XIV. The system has been the cause of a lot of consternation across the internet and Jaime offers some of her thoughts. Read Player Perspectives and then participate in the discussion on our forums.

Guides

The game’s latest expansion, Stormblood, has gotten players to give the game’s PvP features a look (or second look), if for no other reason than it just so happens to be a great way to level up Jobs. But we know PvP in FFXIV can be a bit confusing, so we’ve got you covered with a guide to the basics to help you get started.

One of the more time-consuming new additions to FFXIV is the creation of your very own Anima Weapon in Eorzea. But you might be wondering how they’re obtained. Worry not, soon you’ll be on your way to earning your very own Anima Weapon with our handy walkthrough!

One of the big new features in Final Fantasy XIV’s first expansion, Heavensward, is that players will be finally taking to the sky on flying mounts. But, as with all things FFXIV, there’s a bit of a process when it comes to learning how to ride said flying mounts. In this quick-start guide, we hope to help you figure it out and get into the air as fast as possible.